Antifriction center bearing



J. F. OCONNOR.

ANTIFRICTION CENTER BEARING. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24. 1921.

Patented Nov. 21,1922. F591 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. F. OCONNOR. ANTIFRICTION CENTER BEARING. APPLICATION man OCT. 24, 1921.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922. 2 SPEETS-SH Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

leiiifiit 'rrica.

JOHN F. ooonnoa, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro WILLIAM H. MINER, or

CI-IAZY, NEW YORK.

ANTIFRICTION CENTER BEARING.

Application filed October 24, 1921. Serial No. 509,771.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JorrN F. OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Antifriction Center Bearings, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates 'to improvements in anti-friction center bearings.

One object of the invention is to provide an anti-friction center bearing for railway cars so constructed that the anti-friction rollers always shift their position in the same direction oI travel to thereby minimize wear on the parts and avoid flat spots on the rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center bearing for railway cars wherein are employed two series or anti-friction rollers and locks associated therewith so ar ranged that one series of rollers travels always in one direction and the other series always in the opposite direction regardless of the sequence of the turning movements of the truck bolster with respect to the body bolster.

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the character. indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph wherein the locking devices are of simple design producing the minimum drag on the anti-friction rollers during the movements of the latter.-

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of a car through the king pin thereof showing my improvements in connection with the body and truck bolsters. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the section line 2-92 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the broken section line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of one of the rings employed in the locking arrangement. Fig. 5 is an enlargedvertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the section line 55 of Fig. 1. And Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1O denotes a truck bolster of a car and 11 the body bolster. The same are pivotally connected by a k ng pm of the so-called locking type which comprises two semi-cylindrical members 12-12, flanged at their ends to overlie shoulders on the body and truck bolsters, and a spreader key 13.

The improved center bearing, as shown, comprises, broadly, a lower plate A; an upper plate B; a lowerbearing plate C; an intermediate bearing plate D; an upper bearing plate E; a lower lock plate F; a lower rrng G; an upper lock plate H; an upper ring J a lower series of aniti-friction rollers K; and an upper series of anti-friction rollers L.

The lower supporting plate A is of annular form and of right-angled cross-section having a bottom horizontal flange 14 riveted to the truck bolster and an upstanding circular flange 15.

The upper plate B is also of substantially annular form having a top horizontal web 16 by which it is riveted to the body bolster, and inner and outer depending circular flanges 17 and 18, the flange 17 extending inside of the flange 15.

The bearing plates or rings C, D and E are of annular form and preferably of casehardened finished steel, to thereby provide smooth bearing surfaces with long life.

The lower series of anti-friction rollers K is interposed between the bearing plates G and D and the upper series L is interposed between the bearing plates D and E. Each series of rollers comprises a plurality of radially arranged sets of rollers, each set consisting of three individual rollers of lozenge type. The radially arranged sets are spaced angularly and uniformly, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

The lock plates F and H are of substantially like construction, each consisting oi an outer ring section 19 from which are extended radially inwardly flanges 2020 occupying the spaces between the sets of antifriction rollers as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Each flange 20 is of such a depth that the upper edge thereof stands approximately on a level with the diameters of the rollers so that there is never more than a line contact between any flange 20 and the rollers of any set on either side thereof, thereby reducing the friction or drag on the rollers when the latter are actuated. On the upper edge of each ring section 19 is provided a continuous series of ratchet teeth, as indicated at 2121 in Figs. 3 and 5. In this connection, it will be noted that the teeth 21 on the lower lock plate face in one direction and the teeth 21 on the other lock plate in the opposite direction for the purpose hereinafter described. Said lock plates F and H are supported on the bearing plates C and D, respectively.

The rings G and J are of substantially like construction. As best shown in Fig. 1, each ring is provided on the underside thereof with a -plurality of series of ratchet teeth as indicated at 22-22. The teeth of each series are circumferentially and uniformly spaced. The teeth 22 of one ring are faced in one direction so as to cooperate with the teeth 21 of the corresponding lock plate, the teeth of the other ring being oppositely faced to cooperate with the other lock plate. Each of the rings G and J is also provided around its periphery with a plurality of radially extended circumferentially equally spaced lugs 23--23 which are adapted to work freely up and down in vertically extending grooves 24l-2 l formed on the inner side of the circular flange 18. With this construction it will be seen that the rings G and J, while allowed freedom of movement vertically are, nevertheless, held against rotation with respect to the body bolster.

The operation is as follows- If it be assumed that the body bolster remains stationary and that the truck bolster turns clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, that is, with the lower supporting plate A moving toward the right and the upper plate B remaining stationary as viewed in Fig. 3, the lower series of rollers K will remain stationary but the upper series of rollers L will roll toward the right moving the lock plate H therewith. This movement of-the lock plate H is permitted by reason of the arrangement of the teeth on said lock plate H and the ring J which allows the teeth of the lock plate to slip under the teeth of the ring J the latter moving up and down during this procedure. During this action the lower lock plate F cannot move toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 since the ar-- rangement of its teeth and the teeth of the corresponding ring J prevents such action. Considering next the return of the truck bolster back to its normal position, that is, a rotation counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the reverse condition obtains since the lower lock plate F is free to move toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3 whereas the upper lock plate H is held against movement in such direction.

From the preceding it will be seen that, irrespective of the sequence of turning movements of the truck bolster with respect to the body bolster, the lower series of rollers K will always be caused to travel counterclockwise and the upper series clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby constantly shifting the position of the rollers with respect to the present plates and eliminating concentration of wear on any particular points. A

Referring next to the construction lllll-T- trated in Figs. 6 and 7. The arrangement of parts A, B, G, D, E, K, and L are the same as the correspondingly identified parts heretofore described except that the inner circular flange 115 of the lower member A is provided with vertically extend ing guide grooves 124: instead of the same being formed in the depending circular flange 118 of the upper member B.

In the construction of Figs. 6 and 7, the two ratchet rings G and J are located inwardly of the rollers and are keyed to the lower member A by lugs 123 extending within said grooves 124:. It will also be noted that the rings G and J do not, in the construction of Figs. 6 and 7, move vertically but remain always in the same horizontal position.

The lock plates F and H are similar to the correspondingly identified lock plates of the other construction except that the ring sections thereof, as indicated at 119-119, are near the center instead of on the outer side. As will be understood from the preceding description of the construction first described, the ratchet teeth of the ring G and lock plate F face in one direction, whereas those of the ring J and lock plate H, face in the opposite direction.

The operation of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to that of the other construction heretofore described except that the lock plates F and H vibrate up and down on the rings G and J in accordance with the direction of rotation of the truck bolster with respect to the body bolster. p

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention but the same is by way of illustration only and all changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with an upper series and a lower series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of anti-friction rollers; of top, intermediate, and bottom bearing plates cooperable with said rollers; and reversely arranged locking means associated with said two series of rollers, each set. of locking means including, a plate having a plurality of radially extending arms, one between each adjacent pair of radial sets of rollers, and ratchet devices preventing said plate from turning in one direction relative to one of the bolsters and permitting it to turn in the opposite direction.

2. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with an upper series and a lower series of radially arranged ant. angularly spaced sets of anti-friction rollers; olf top, intermediate, and bottom bearing plates cooperable with said rollers; and reversely arranged locking means associated with said two series of rollers, each set of locking means including, an annular plate having a plurality of ratchet teeth and a plurality of arms each extending radially between a pair of adjacent sets of rollers, and a cooperable relatively non-rotatable element having ratchet teeth.

3. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with a lower bearing plate; of a lower series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; a lock plate associated with said series of rollers; said plate having radially extending arms between adj acent sets of rollers; an intermediate bearing plate on top of said series of rollers; an upper series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; an upper lock plate associated with said upper series of rollers and having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; a top bearing plate; a member adapted to be rigidly secured to one of the bolsters to move in unison therewith; upper and lower annular elements carried by said member and held against rotation with respect thereto; and cooperable means between each of said elements and the corresponding lock plate arranged to allow rotation of the latter in one direction and prevent it from rotating in the other direction with respect to said member, said means being reversely ar ranged.

4. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with a lower bearing plate; of a lower series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; said plate having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; an intermediate bearing plate on top oi said series of rollers; an upper series oi radially arranged and angu larly spaced sets of rollers; an upper lock plate associated with said upper series of rollers and having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; a top bearing plate; a member adapted to be rigidly secured to one of the bolsters to move in unison therewith; upper and lower annular elements carried by said member and held against rotation with respect thereto; and cooperable ratchet teeth on each of said elements and corresponding lock plate, the ratchet teeth on one set of plate and element being arranged reversely to the ratchet teeth on the other set.

5. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with a lower bearing plate; of a lower series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; a lock plate associated with said series of rollers, said plate having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; an intermediate bearing plate on topoi said series of rollers, an upper series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; an upper lock plate associated with said upper series of rollers and having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; a top bearing plate; a member adapted to be rigidly secured to one of the bolsters to move in unison therewith; upper and lower annular elements carried by said member and held against rotation with respect thereto; and cooperable means between each of said elements and the corresponding lock plat-e arranged to allow rotation of the latter in one direction and prevent it from rotating in the other direction with respect to said member, said means being reversely arranged, said lock plates riding upon the lower and intermediate bearing plates respectively and said elements being movable up and down with respect to said member.

6. In a center bearing adapted to be interposed between two bolsters, the combination with a lower bearing plate; of a lower series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; a lock plate associated with said series of rollers, said plate having radially extending arms between adjacent sets of rollers; an intermediate bearing plate on top of said series of rollers; an upper series of radially arranged and angularly spaced sets of rollers; an upper lock plate associated with said upper series of rollers and having radially extending arms between adj acent sets of rollers; a top bearing plate; a member adapted to be rigidly secured to one of the bolsters to move in unison therewith; upper and lower annular elements carried by said member and held against rotation with respect thereto; and cooperable ratchet teeth on each of said elements and corresponding lock plate, the ratchet teeth of one set of plate and element being arranged reversely to the ratchet teeth on the other set, said lock plates riding upon the lower and intermediate bearing plates respectively and said elements being movable up and down with respect to said member.

7. In a center bearing for railway cars, the combination with upper and lower plates adapted to be secured to the body and truck bolsters respectively, one of said plates having a vertically extending circular flange; of upper and lower series 01"- anti-friction rollers, each series comprising a plurality of sets radially arranged and angularly spaced; an intermediate floating bearing plate between said two series of rollers; up

per and lower lock plates cooperable with said upper and lower series of rollers respectively, each lock plate having a plurality of ratchet teeth arranged circularly; and upper and lower ratchet rings cooperable with said upper and lower lock plates respectively, said ratchet rings being keyed to said flange to rotate in unison therewith but movable vertically with respect thereto, the

ratchet teeth of one ring and lock plate extending in one direction and those of the other ring and lock plate in the opposite direction. V

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of Oct. 1921., e JOHN F.'OCONNOR.

Witnesses:

CARRIE GAILING,

UNA O. GmesBY. 

